Navjot Singh Sidhu in trouble: Punjab police registers case of outraging sentiments of Sikh community against him

Outraging the sentiments of a community is considered hate speech under section 295 (A) of Indian Penal code.

Amritsar, January 27: Punjab police on Friday registered a case against cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu for allegedly outraging the sentiments of Sikh community. “Navjot Singh Sidhu has been booked for hurting the sentiments of Sikh Community,” news agency ANI reported. Outraging the sentiments of a community is considered hate speech under section 295 (A) of Indian Penal code.

Navjot Singh Sidhu has recently joined the Congress ahead of Punjab assembly elections. Navjot Singh Sidhu while joining congress, said that he and his family has been connected to Congress. “My father served for Congress for 40 years,” said Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Navjot Singh Sidhu, who never enjoyed warm relations with the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Punjab, quit the BJP saying he was feeling stifled. After quitting the BJP and failing to join the AAP apparently over his role in the party, Sidhu formed the Awaaz-e-Punjab along with the popular Bains brothers.

Outraging the sentiments of a community is considered hate speech under section 295 (A) of Indian Penal code.

Section 295(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) says “Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of [citizens of India], [by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise], insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to [three years], or with fine, or with both”.